MOUSE, or Rat. In Greek and Latin, Mus, in Hebrew Gnachbar, or Acbar1. This little Animal is known by every Body. Moses has declared it to be unclean, which insinuates that it was eaten sometimes. And in Truth ‘tis affirmed, that the Jews were so oppressed with Famine during the Siege of Jerusalem by the Romans, that they were compelled to eat Dogs, Mice, and Rats2. And Isaiah reproaches the Jews with eating Isai. lxvi. 17.the Flesh of Mice, and other Things that were impure and abominable. The Rabbins3 say, that one of the Reasons why the Law has forbid the eating of Mice, is, because their Flesh causes the Loss of Memory. And hence it comes to pass, as they say, that Cats have no Memory. Herodotus a imputes the Ruine of the Army of Sennacharib to Mice. These Creatures, he says, having gnawed the Leather of their Bucklers one Night, and the Strings of their Bows, Sennacharib was obliged to retire. ‘Tis known what Spoil was made by Mice in the Fields of the Philistines, after this People had brought into their Countrey the Ark of the 1 Sam. v. 6, 7, &c.Lord; and the Resolution that was then taken by the Lords of the Philistines, to send back the Ark with Mice and Emerods of Gold, as an Attonement for the Irreverence they had committed, and to avert from their Land the Vengeance that pursued them. The Assyrians that besieged Bethulia, when they saw the Hebrews come out of the City in Order of Battle, compared them to Mice, saying, See the Mice are coming forth out of their Holes, Judith xiv. 12. Vulgat.
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